What is the recommended dose of L-Arginine?

- **Look for:** L-Arginine HCl, minimum 1,000mg per serving, third-party tested - **Avoid:** Proprietary blends hiding arginine dose; "arginine AKG" with inflated weight (AKG adds molecular weight ...

Is L-Arginine safe to take daily?

L-Arginine is rated "Generally Safe" based on clinical evidence. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

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Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

L-Arginine

MODERATE EVIDENCEAmino AcidLast updated

AVELOR SUMMARY

L-Arginine is the direct precursor to nitric oxide (NO) via nitric oxide synthase. Our research shows moderate evidence for blood pressure reduction (5.4/2.7 mmHg in meta-analysis) and erectile dysfunction improvement, but for exercise performance, citrulline is now considered superior due to arginine's poor oral bioavailability (~20% absorbed). The key safety concern: arginine is CONTRAINDICATED post-heart attack — the VINTAGE MI trial was stopped early due to increased mortality in the arginine group.

WHAT IT DOES

Arginine is converted to nitric oxide by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO relaxes blood vessel smooth muscle, lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow — including to the penis (ED mechanism) and muscles (exercise). The problem: oral arginine is heavily metabolized by the enzyme arginase in the gut wall and liver before it reaches the bloodstream. This is why citrulline — which bypasses arginase and converts to arginine in the kidneys — actually raises blood arginine levels MORE than arginine itself.

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

Look for: L-Arginine HCl, minimum 1,000mg per serving, third-party tested
Avoid: Proprietary blends hiding arginine dose; "arginine AKG" with inflated weight (AKG adds molecular weight without proportional benefit); products combining arginine with PDE5-active herbs (horny goat weed)
Minimum effective dose: 3,000mg/day for blood pressure; 5,000mg/day for ED
Third-party tested brands: NOW Foods, Jarrow Formulas

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SAFETY PROFILE

Critical Interactions (Do Not Combine Without Medical Supervision)

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely)

Theoretical/Low-Risk Interactions

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Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

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